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And in the company's SEC filings. Additionally, this call will include certain non GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA or EBITDA as we refer to it on this call. Reconciliations of non GAAP financial measures are included in our earnings release and our SEC filings. Which are available in the Investor Relations section of our website. And with that, I'm pleased to turn the call over to Lachlan.
11m 15s
Thank you, Gabby, and thank you all for joining us this morning.
11m 19s
It's a particularly beautiful spring morning in in New York, this morning. I hope everyone's had a chance to enjoy it.
11m 25s
Our fiscal third quarter underscore the central role Fox plays in informing and entertaining America. And our financial performance once again illustrates the strength of the Fox platform. Whether it be our market leading coverage what has been a sustained active news cycle, or a record breaking broadcast of the Super Bowl we delivered across the board milestones during the third quarter. Total company advertising revenue grew 65% in the quarter, including the Super Bowl. Which generated over $800,000,000 of gross advertising revenue across our businesses.
12m 4s
A record for both our national broadcast network and our local TV stations. This year's matchup between Kansas City and Philadelphia delivered a 28,000,000 viewers across flat Fox platforms, making Super Bowl fifty nine the most watched telecast in US history. Our affiliate revenues also had a notable quarter. With total revenue growth of 3% on the back of higher rates and improved subscriber declines for the third consecutive quarter. These robust results continue to build upon Fox's noteworthy first half and put us on track to complete a strong fiscal year Notably, these third quarter results reflected the highest free cash flow in Fox's history. While we recognize the commentary around the macro environment we have seen no impact to our business. Our ratings and engagement are strong, National advertising scatter pricing is outpacing last year's upfront rates, with solid demand and Tubi continues its top line momentum. We remain confident that our best in class assets disciplined approach and fortress like balance sheet will continue to set us apart. In fact, in just a few hours, we will host America's top advertisers at this year's upfront presentation here in New York. We approach this upfront cycle on uniquely strong footing.
13m 41s
Knowing that our focus on live sports and news programming combined with Tubi's commanding position in the AVOD segment and our exceptional entertainment offering will continue to offer rare value to our advertising partners. Nowhere is Fox's leadership more evident than Fox News. For once again, the Fox News channel finished the quarter as the most watched cable network. But even more remarkable is that during the quarter, Fox News was the second most watched network in Monday through Friday Prime, in all of television. Surpassing all but one broadcast network. This combination of an engaged audience and a dynamic news cycle led to record audience share in the quarter. Fox News Channel had one of the highest rated quarters in cable news history growing total day audience 48%. In total viewers and 58% in the demo. And reaching our highest quarterly share of cable news audience ever. In fact, since the election, Fox News has delivered the top 1,013 cable news telecasts. This ratings and share momentum has carried into the current quarter with April total ratings up nearly 30% prime time ratings up over 30% and prime time cable news audience share in the 60% range. I should also highlight our digital consumption trends.
15m 20s
Which demonstrate our news content is resonating with an expanded audience beyond the linear world. 18%, year on year to a record 11,000,000,000 views. And closed the quarter with the highest number of YouTube views in its history. Engagement at Fox Sports is also unmatched in the industry. Especially after a solid NFL postseason. For the twenty twenty four-twenty twenty five television season to date, Fox Sports ranks as the industry leader live sports event viewership. Accumulating three point three billion hours of sports event viewing. 17% better than our closest competitor. While the sports calendar in our fiscal fourth quarter trends tend to be quieter, we see strong audience and advertiser demand for our schedule. Including NASCAR, the inaugural season of IndyCar on Fox, and the start of the baseball season. Turning to digital. 2B delivered another outstanding quarter. With revenue growth of 35% year on year. This marks an acceleration compared to the 31% growth we posted in the December which is even more impressive when considering the last quarter benefited from political revenue. As you know, Tubi played an essential role in extending the reach of the Super Bowl bringing in over 24,000,000 unique viewers, on game day and 16,000,000 peak concurrent viewers during the game.
16m 59s
Of those unique viewers, 40% were in the 18 to 34 demo, and half of those were female. Reciprocally, the Super Bowl provided a unique promotional opportunity for Tubi which attracted over 8,000,000 new registered viewers. While engagement on the platform was certainly helped by the Super Bowl, retention and consumption trends at Tubi post the Super Bowl are also very encouraging. With total view time up 24% year over year in April. 2B has established itself as a leading player in the streaming world. Offering premium on demand entertainment and original content that is 100% free for consumers. We think this combined with Tubi's large, young and diverse, highly engaged audience of mostly cordless viewers, offers advertisers unrivaled value proposition. Also well positioned for the upfront is Fox Entertainment, which had a strong broadcast season. Levering the Super Bowl lead in to launch the third season of the floor. This, along with other top rated shows like Doc and Universal Basic Guys, helped propel Fox to the top spot in prime time season to date among adults eighteen to forty nine. As we wrap up another successful quarter, it is clear that Fox's differentiated and focused strategy continues to outperform.
18m 34s
The reach of our brands and our compelling programming led to impressive annual consumption growth of 34% across the entire Fox portfolio during the third quarter. When it comes to live events and news, Fox's leadership has never been clearer. There's a lot to be excited about as we look ahead. The work our dedicated team of journalists and staff at Fox News and at our local stations across which make substantial investments in news reporting nationally and locally, a compelling spring sports schedule, taking viewers from the racetrack to the ballpark, and the leverage, the elevated brand awareness of to be has to drive increased engagement in homes across America. We're also excited about our direct to consumer plans. Since the formation of Fox, we have created a unique platform of America's best known media brands across the key verticals, of news, sports, and entertainment. These are the brands that resonate with our audiences and that advertisers value so highly. Whether it's the Super Bowl, the election cycle, or the upfront. Our company is at its best. When we work together as one. That key attribute is the basis of our upcoming D2C offering. [indiscernible] Where targeted consumers the cordless market outside of pay TV, can find all the Fox brands they love.
20m 14s
Fox One is on track to launch before the football season this fall, and we look forward to sharing further details about the service. In the coming months. With the brisk tailwinds from both our strong operating momentum and financial results, we will continue to focus on execution and remain committed to delivering. Long term value for our shareholders in a thoughtful and disciplined manner. And with that, I will turn the call over to the thoughtful and disciplined team mom that team to take you through the details of the quarter. Thank you, Lachlan.
20m 53s
Good morning, everyone. As Lachlan said, Fox delivered another quarter of impressive results. Highlighted by a 27% increase in total revenues, and record free cash flow.
21m 6s
Our advertising revenues increased 65% led by the combination of a record breaking Super Bowl accelerating growth at Tubi, and strong engagement and pricing at News. Total company affiliate fee revenues grew 3% over the prior year quarter. Once again demonstrating the strength of our brands, and focused portfolio of channels. Other revenues grew 20% year over year driven by higher sports sublicensing revenues at our cable segment. Similar to prior quarters, this growth in revenue was largely offset by a corresponding increase in rights costs. With no material impact on year over year overall EBITDA growth. Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was $856,000,000 as compared to the $891,000,000 reported in the prior year quarter.
21m 55s
As these revenue increases were offset by higher expenses.
21m 59s
This was primarily due to higher sports rights amortization and production costs associated with our broadcast to the Super Bowl. Net income attributable to Fox stockholders was $346,000,000 or $0.75 per share as compared to the $666,000,000 or $1.4 per share reported in the prior year period. Excluding non core items, adjusted net income was $5.00 $7,000,000 and adjusted EPS was $1.1 up slightly compared to the $1.9 per share recorded in the prior year. Now turning to our operating segments. Starting with the Cable Network Programming segment. Which delivered 11% revenue growth and 7% EBITDA growth. Cable advertising revenues grew 26% over the prior year. Driven by the strength in Fox News linear ratings and digital engagement and supported by healthy national and direct response pricing. Cable affiliate fee revenues grew 3% over the prior year quarter. As pricing gains from our affiliate renewals outpaced the impact from net subscriber declines which continued to improve to under 7%. Cable other revenues grew 79% due to the high sports sublicensing revenues I mentioned earlier. Revenue growth at the Cable segment was partially offset by 16% increase in expenses. Primarily attributable to an increase in sports rights amortization and production costs including amortization corresponding to the incremental sports sub licensing revenues.
23m 36s
Turning to our television segment, which delivered 40% revenue growth. Advertising revenues at our television segment grew 77% over the prior year, led by Super Bowl fifty nine, which generated over $800,000,000 in gross revenues. If we exclude the tremendous revenue contribution from the Super Bowl, we still saw solid underlying growth. In our TV segment advertising revenues. Led by accelerating growth at Tubi. Television affiliate fee revenues increased 4% in the quarter with healthy growth in fees across both Fox owned and affiliated stations more than offset the impact from industry subscriber declines. Television and other revenues were up 3% year over year primarily due to higher content revenues tied to our entertainment production studios. Expenses at the television segment increased 47% driven by our broadcaster Super Bowl fifty nine as well as continued investment at Tubi. All in, EBITDA at our television segment was $60,000,000 as compared to the $145,000,000 reported in the prior year quarter. Turning to cash flow, where we generated record quarterly free cash flow of over $1,900,000,000 This strong quarterly free cash flow delivery is consistent with the seasonality of our working capital cycle. Where the first half of our fiscal year reflects the concentration of payments for sports rights, and buildup of advertising related receivables both of which reversed in the second half of our fiscal year.
25m 17s
In terms of capital allocation, fiscal year to date, we have repurchased an additional $800,000,000 through our share buyback program. This brings the total cumulative amount repurchased to CAD6.4 billion, or approximately 30% of our total shares outstanding since the launch of the buyback program in 2019. We remain committed to utilizing our full buyback authorization of $7,000,000,000 This is supported by the strength of our balance sheet where we ended the quarter with approximately $4,800,000,000 in cash and $7,200,000,000 in debt. And since quarter end, we repaid our $600,000,000 debt maturity, which came due in April. And with that, I'll turn the call back over to Gaby.
26m 4s
Thanks, Steve. And now we would be happy to take questions from the investment community.
26m 11s
Thanks, Gabby. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to emphasize the new functionality for the question and answer queue. If you wish to ask a question, please press You will hear a tone indicating you have been placed in queue. You may remove yourself from queue at any time by once again pressing star then one. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up the handset before pressing the numbers. It has been requested that you limit yourself to one question. Once again, if you have a question, And we have a question from Michael Morris at Guggenheim. Please go ahead.
26m 54s
Thank you. Good morning. I wanted to ask about Fox One. I know you said details will follow, but love to try to get some details on your view of pricing of the product the addressable market and whether you expect to take on any partnerships or bundle or things like that? And if I could squeeze in one more, I know it's a little early, but Steve, could you give us any thoughts on looking into fiscal twenty twenty six and how we should think about any of the puts and takes after the strong fiscal twenty twenty five to date? Thank you.
27m 30s
Thanks, Mike. So I'll answer the the Fox one questions. And I can't give you a great amount of detail, but we'll be rolling these things out as, obviously, as we get closer to the fall and to start of the football season, which we will be launching beforehand. The pricing will be in line with our wholesale. We'll be our wholesale pricing. So we think that's where the appropriate level at the most fair to our our distributors So the pricing will healthy. It will not be a discounted price. And very much as targeted to the which goes to your addressable market question. We're targeting the service entirely to the the cordless community, to the cordless market. Out there. It would be a failure of us if if we attract more connected subscribers or who are we don't we do not wanna lose a traditional cable subscriber to Fox one. And we're doing everything we can to to make sure as much as is humanly possible that that's that's the way we market and that's the way we we plan the business. But, yes, we will be entering partnerships, with other distributors and and and services to offer Fox one as you see other other streaming services do.
28m 55s
So we we will be working with, with partners to to to gain as broader possible distribution within the, within the the the focus of that, cordless, viewer. Steve?
29m 7s
Yeah. Thanks, Lachlan. Hi, Mike. So if I look at fiscal twenty six versus fiscal twenty five, obviously, you look at sort of the big sort of seasonal cyclical drivers of our business. So the big one from a net margin perspective for us this year is political, which obviously is not there in an off year next year. But then Super Bowl from a from a purely advertising revenue versus rights cost perspective was a deficit for us this year. That's not there in fiscal twenty six. But then we have FIFA coming through in the very, very back end, which crossovers fiscal 'twenty six versus fiscal 'twenty seven. Against all of that, we've got really, really nice tailwinds with our advertising business both at particularly both at Fox News and Tubi. And then we're also continuing to see solid tailwinds with our affiliate revenue growth. And so I think some of the swing factor with fiscal twenty six, which probably little bit too early to call, is the extent to which we moderate the investment into the versus the B2C investment, particularly that launch cost investment going into the early part of next fiscal year. So, hopefully, that gives you a few breadcrumbs.
30m 21s
Operator, can we go to the next question, please?
30m 24s
We have a question from John Hodulik from UBS. Please go ahead. Great. Thank you. In the past, guys have talked about increasing demand from brand advertisers on on Fox News. Could you update us on that Are you seeing any sort of quantifiable shift from Doctor to brand advertising? And I know it's sold differently, but can you can you comment on the sort of difference in sort of price between what you're getting from from Doctor and what you're getting from brand advertising? Thanks.
30m 56s
Thanks, John. So I think we're now up to over 200 new advertisers, since the election. I think when Steve left the cat out the bag, it was over a hundred, a hundred hundred hundred tons, but but that's grown to over 200 new advertisers. And I think the the really positive and important, data point to to to know here is that they are continuing to advertise. So this is this is not a knee jerk or one off reaction, to the election. But these advertisers have, you know, found our audience. The the the the creative work and the, the positioning is is working for them. And they're sticking on our air and continue to advertise. So we see that as a as a very positive sort of recognition of the the power of Fox News, the power of our ratings and and our programming. That it's working for these new 200 advertisers, and they're sticking, sticking with us. In terms of direct response, so I don't think there's directly answers your question. Don't I wanna give specific sort of pricing out. But just so you know, direct response during the quarter, on Fox News was up over, 30% direct response.
32m 18s
And our scatter pricing was up over 50% of up upfront pricing. So the the momentum that seeing, within Fox News, obviously, driven first by really sort of record setting audience and share. That's flowing through nicely to the revenue line. And that momentum seems to be continuing.
32m 41s
Great. Next question please.
32m 44s
We have a question from Jessica Reif Ehrlich of Bank of America. Please go ahead.
32m 50s
Thank you. Well, couple of things. One, all parts of your business have pretty much surprised on the upside. Over, I don't know, a while. But maybe nothing more surprising than to be you talk about the path to profitability and the drivers whether it's programmatic and fill rates or like what you're doing or what your plans are, And then the balance sheet is just so strong. So clearly, you have lots of options. Can you give us some color on how you're thinking about that?
33m 21s
Sure. Hi, Jessica. I'll start and then hand over to Steve for the part of the the question. So no, thank you for acknowledging, the strength of Tubi and the continued growth in Tubi. It's certainly not a surprise to us. We've had a great faith in this business and and and in this management, over the long term. And we believe, not only has it had a great track record to date, but we'll continue to have a great, great prospect and has huge opportunity. Going into the into the future. The growth in this quarter was fundamentally in Tubi like any free media service, it comes back to engagement. And and and tubing grew 18% in total viewing time. During the quarter. But this flowed through to a 35% revenue improvement. In the quarter. So directly from TBT, then you run into your, obviously, your pricing and your on your fill rates. But this translate in a 35% revenue improvement in the quarter. I think it's important to know and without Gabby kicking me on the table, in April, that that rate has accelerated in April. And so we are really pleased as we see progress of, of Tubi.
34m 46s
But there's a solid advertising base where people continue to continue to advertise on on the platform. And it's a very healthy, both direct response and partner, revenue streams. Tubi really is becoming a mainstream service across America. That's the what we've seen the difference over the last you know, year or two is to be becoming something that's a very, [indiscernible] good business that serves 65% of its audience is hard to reach cord less the cord less audience. But it's more and more becoming something that that mainstream everyday Americans are using as their free, entertainment, service. [indiscernible] frustrating part about the business is that we don't get the the appropriate evaluation within our stock. We think it's a tremendously valuable business. We're looking forward to outperforming, with two weeks, for years to come. Steve?
35m 56s
Yes. Thanks, Jessica, and thanks for noticing the balance sheet. Yes, we're at $4,800,000,000 of cash. The debt position is is comfortable. And listen, that's only going to improve through the back half of the year because Q4 is typically a strong free cash flow quarter for us. So obviously, as we think about usage of that capital, obviously, we look at that on a balance basis across buybacks and kind of running out of what our authorization. So you should expect that to be topped up as part of normal course board business over the course of the remainder of the year. And then if we look at it sort of the other options with respect to that capital, obviously invested organically in the business and to be which Lachlan just described has been a key beneficiary of that investment. Over the last couple of years and that has paid dividends for us. Continue to do that and I guess the next cap off the rank there will be our Fox One venture. And then we look at everything from a nonorganic basis, but the the bar is incredibly high in so ultimately, deploy capital where it's best for the shareholders.
37m 3s
Next question please.
37m 5s
We have a question from Ben Swinburne, Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.
37m 11s
Thanks. Good morning, everyone.
37m 14s
Want to ask about your strategy around direct to consumer and sort of the broader affiliate revenue growth of the company. You guys are growing nicely. Even with cord cutting. Which is not true for your competitors. And a lot of them have gone down this path that you talked about Lachlan of sort of bundling the streaming service in with their linear networks.
37m 37s
And it's hard to tell from outside, in some cases, looks like one plus one is less than two. For those competitors. And I'm just wondering how you're thinking about what you can get out of launching D2C versus any risk you see in your MVPD relationships because you're now gonna be essentially competing with your networks, through those bundles. And and just to finish up the risk conversation, 's been some FCC noise around capping reverse retrans and I would love to hear your thoughts on that if you see that as a real risk. Thanks so much.
38m 12s
Thanks, Ben. So first, on on d two c and how we view that with, and how the balance is with our affiliate [indiscernible] obviously, ongoing you know, growth in the affiliate revenue line, for us. So, you know, I I should start with saying, we remain incredibly supportive of and positive about our, the traditional, cable bundle and the traditional, cable distribution. And and as as that applies to both our our our our cable, channels and and also, our sort of broadcaster affiliate stations. So so we we will continue to support in every way possible the traditional model. It's it's served really the the whole industry, very well and served us very well. And we will not be engaging in in sort of activities or strategies that undermine or the purpose to undermine the traditional distribution models. Having said that, we think that D2C is time for us to launch a D2C service. It's time for us to target that service specifically to cord, Nevers. Going back to Jessica's question before, when I mentioned that 65% of to the to the audience is core networks, that's that's remarkably high. And I I I failed to mention that that is actually higher for two b than anyone in our competitive set.
39m 47s
So 65% of our audience being cord and usually being cord Nevers. That's higher than Roku. It's higher than Pluto. Higher than Freevy, Max, Paramount Plus, or Peacock. And that shows us two things. It shows us why two b is so valuable to advertisers who need the reach, who can't get to that audience without us. It also shows a a growing expertise in the company about how we focus on these core on this cordless segment. And so we're going to really take a lot of the learnings we have from 2B to focus our D2C strategy away from people who who might be churning out of the the cable universe. You know, we do see, this is, you know, part of the the the ecosystem that we're talking about. Obviously, emergence of the skinny bundles, we think are positive for Fox.
40m 40s
The fact that our broadcast, our news, and our sport are in all of these skinny core bundles, we think is very positive. It's too early yet to see the impact of the skinny bundles. But, but but we are very optimistic about them. And even though, you know, we've had a few quarters now, of declining sub, erosion, in the in the market, too early to see how much of that is working, the market getting towards a base level of subscribers.
41m 10s
Or whether it's the impact of skinny bundles. But I'd remind you that in the fourth quarter of twenty four, the sub declines are about 8.7%. They then wanted the first quarter of twenty five to 7.8%. In the second quarter, 7.2 and now minus six point five. So continuing decline in in sub erosion. Which we see is a very healthy trend. And in terms of the FCC, we can't speculate on what the FCC is going to do. But we certainly see the the affiliate network relationship as a healthy one. It's always a negotiation that's left to the market. And and when we think it's it's it's it's best left to the market. Also do do note that our affiliate agreements are unique, and our network is unique in one very important way. Because we broadcast the fewest amount of network hours of any of the the the national networks, that leaves our stations to really be be able to invest in their own programming particularly in local news. Which we think is is critically important to the health of both the local news, broadcast, industry local local broadcast [indiscernible] and also to the local communities that they serve.
42m 31s
Great. Next question, please, operator.
42m 33s
We have a question from Steven Kyle. From Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.
42m 40s
Thanks.
42m 40s
So on Fox One, I think that's a pull forward in timing. If I recall, it was going to be year end and now it's before the football season. So I think is that right? And congrats on that. And are you thinking about bundling opportunities with Fox One? I just think about cord cutters and cord nevers are probably looking for some integrated subscription options, some integrated viewing experiences that go across sports and across the NFL. Just curious how you're thinking about partnering opportunities on Fox One. And then Steve, maybe just following up on Jessica's question, could you talk about the timeline for the FanDuel licensing that you need to go through? And is it correct for us to assume that as soon as you're able to exercise that, it's in your interest because the option only gets higher over time? Or are you still balancing the exercise of that option with other capital allocation opportunities and priorities?
43m 34s
Thanks. Thanks, Steve. So first with Fox One, I think we might have originally you might be right or you might be half right in that. I think we might have originally said end of the year, but I think we did say after that that it would be available for the the, the football season. So I think we have said that before So once again, we're we're not breaking any news on this on this call except for the name. The the name's the name's breaking news. So so it was not it's an aggressive time line. You're you're you're to launch a service. But we've been we've been planning this for a long time. We've had the technology place for a long time. Obviously, we benefit from a lot of the work done around the venue, the the venue service. Which didn't go forward. So we feel confident in reaching that time frame. Of course, being up before the, the football season, is is is our our day for us. But but we are are are very confident moving forward that we're gonna make that date. And we'll go announce the specific day in the in the in the weeks or or months ahead.
44m 44s
We will be bundling, with a number of other services Again, I wouldn't want to announce that prematurely on this call. But but, obviously, with a a service as as valuable as Fox, a a lot of other streaming services have approached us about bundling. And we will be, we'll be moving forward with with with a number of those, relationships. Fox one will also be available to every traditional subscriber of of our service We don't wanna compete, with our distributors. That's that's not our intent. So if you're already paying for the Fox services through your cable subscription, you'll be able to download and and and receive a Fox one as well.
45m 35s
Steve, just to pick up on the on the FanDuel option. Just to level set there. So we've got until the February to exercise our option over 18.6%. Of that business. So it's a state by state licensing regime, and so we're actively in discussions with each of the 26 states that we need to get licensed with. As you would know, there's an incredible amount of value locked in that option. So if I just look at where the streets are in terms of the in the money in the so so that sort of the value of the 18.6 versus the strike price is worth about $2,800,000,000 to us in intrinsic value. And so it's absolutely in our interest to get licensed and we will get licensed over the coming years. But I think when you look at the sort of the accretion in the strike price of about 5% a year, that's not a driving factor in terms of our decision on when to deploy capital towards that. It's really about of getting through the the licensing regime, and then and then we hit go.
46m 39s
Operator, we have time for one more question.
46m 43s
We have a question from Michael Ng from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead. Hey, good morning. Thank you very much for the question.
46m 52s
I was just wondering if you could give us an update on the digital investments. I think last quarter it was a high $2,000,000 Obviously, the outperformance of 2B to date as well as the greater clarity into the timing of launch of FOX-one. I was wondering if you could just talk about that for this year and perhaps into next again. And then secondly, there have been reports of plans for Disney to vacate the Fox lot in City. I was just wondering if you had any future plans there that you could discuss or options that you may have. Thank you.
47m 29s
Thanks, Mike.
47m 30s
So on the digital investment Steve can give more detail. But you know, Tubi Tubi continues to improve financially. We are continuing to invest, in in Tubi, however, and continue to do that, really as we see fit that sort of suits the the the business. We think we've built on an incredibly valuable business in Tubi. And so we don't want to create kind of a false hurdle for us in terms of profitability, but it's it's sooner rather than later. And Tubi, as you know, has now reached beyond $1,000,000,000 in revenue for the trailing twelve months. So the the business is on absolutely the right trajectory. But we'll continue to invest in it for the for the near to medium term future.
48m 23s
Obviously, though, as that as that as that business reaches profitability, we we continue to invest organically in in the future of our businesses. And so the overall, investment in in digital properties remains broadly, in line. Steve can give you more detail on that, but just let me quickly answer the the Disney, Fox lock question. Know, obviously, the the sound stages are are are in very high demand, and and we'll continue to work with with Disney and and others just to see them on effectively booked out. What Disney has announced they will, or indicated to us that they they will vacate. There office space on the lot that is not connected to production? And that that represents like, less than a third of the office space, on on the Fox lot. It's highly valuable real estate probably valid, the lettable real estate. In the center cities of the Santa Monica region of of Los Angeles. And we think we'll have no problem, in filling it.
49m 40s
Steve, do wanna add anything?
49m 42s
Yes. So, Mike, just on just on digital investment, think in fiscal twenty twenty four, we're in the mid-3s. We'd expect that to come come down for fiscal twenty twenty five. To be included in our numbers this quarter was a bit of a surge into the investment spend. It obviously had the Super Bowl and March heavily around that and and really went really use that as a as a sort of marketing piece as well as a user acquisition piece, but you should expect to see that come back a bit in the final quarter and see our overall digital sort of growth investment envelope shrink over the when you look at full year versus full year it's probably a bit premature to talk about where we land in fiscal twenty twenty six. I definitely expect to be to be as Lachlan mentioned to continue to improve and then it's a question of how we start to [indiscernible] Great. At this point, we're out of time. But if you have any further questions, please give me or Charlie Costanzo a call. Thanks once again for joining us today.
50m 40s
Hey. Thanks, Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude the Fox Corporation third quarter Fiscal Year twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. Thank you.
Key Insights
FOX delivered strong fiscal Q3 results, with total company advertising revenue up 65% (including a record-breaking Super Bowl generating over $800M in gross ad revenue) and total revenues up 27%; free cash flow reached an all-time high of over $1.9B for the quarter.
Tubi continued its rapid growth, with revenue up 35% year-over-year and total view time up 24% in April; Tubi surpassed $1B in trailing twelve-month revenue and is on track for profitability, with ongoing investment expected to moderate in FY25.
Fox News maintained its leadership as the most-watched cable network, adding over 200 new advertisers since the election and seeing direct response advertising up over 30% and scatter pricing up over 50% versus upfront rates.
FOX One, the new direct-to-consumer streaming service targeting the cordless market, is on track to launch before the football season this fall; pricing will be in line with wholesale rates, and bundling partnerships are planned, but FOX aims to avoid cannibalizing traditional cable subscribers.
The company remains committed to shareholder returns, having repurchased $800M in shares fiscal year-to-date (totaling $6.4B since 2019), and ended the quarter with $4.8B in cash and $7.2B in debt; digital investment is expected to decrease in FY25 after a surge related to Super Bowl marketing.
